Craigslist ad leads Oroville police to theft suspect

OROVILLE -- A Gridley man was arrested Tuesday after police found an advertisement on Craigslist selling an outboard boat motor that was allegedly stolen in Oroville Saturday from John's Marine.

Oroville Police Lt. Al Byers said Wednesday the theft occurred around 12:45 a.m. Saturday and was reported later that morning.

The suspect had cut through a chain-link fence around the property and unbolted a Mercury, 15-horsepower outboard motor from an aluminum boat that was in the shop for repair.

The loss was estimated to be around $4,000, and the theft was captured on video, police said.

Monday, officers found an item posted on the Sacramento Craigslist attempting to sell a motor matching the one that was stolen. The ad had originally been posted on Saturday.

Oroville detectives responded to the post Tuesday. Byers said they emailed back and forth with the person who posted the ad and made arrangements to meet the person at a residence in Gridley to buy the motor.

With Gridley police assistance, plainclothes detectives arrived at the home in the guise of buying the motor for $1,300 and confirmed it was the same motor stolen Saturday in Oroville.

The suspect was identified as Ramon Santana Jr., 32, of Gridley.

Santana was out on bail and/or his own recognizance for another stolen property charge pending in Butte County Superior Court. He was scheduled to return to court in June.

Santana was arrested and booked into Butte County Jail Tuesday on suspicion of possession of stolen property and committing a felony while out on bail or his own recognizance.